Box Score

Farmingdale, NY (May 5, 2013) – SUNY Maritime prevailed in a slugfest Saturday, winning 14-8, to eliminate Purchase from the Skyline Conference Baseball Tournament.

An afternoon after losing 1-0 in a tough semifinal opener, Purchase led 2-0 after an inning and a half in semifinal game two, but Maritime scored two in the bottom of the frame, tying the ballgame. Purchase, the road team Saturday at top-seeded Farmingdale State, would take a slim one-run lead in the fourth, but the feisty Privateers answered with two in their half for a 4-3 advantage after four.

Not to be outdone, Purchase tied it in the top of the fifth. But Maritime rallied, breaking open the game with a five-run sixth and then pulling away behind a five-run eighth. The resilient Panthers would scratch across two more in the seventh and two in the ninth, but the big innings from Maritime late proved to be too much.

Rookie Adam Brant (FR/Hyde Park, NY) took the loss for the Panthers. He relieved starter Mitchell Paz (SO/Bridgeport, CT), who was both strong and erratic at times on the afternoon. Brant pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth, allowing only one inherited run to score, but Maritime touched him up after the next 4 1/3.

Offensively, the Panthers kept pace with Maritime, pounding out 14 hits to out-hit the Privateers (14-12).

Five players recorded two hits apiece, including Josh Spielberg (SR/Oceanside, NY) and Michael Skoller (JR/East Meadow, NY), who each finished with two RBI. Spielberg and Kevin McQuade (SR/Mamaroneck, NY) both had two doubles on the afternoon, including clutch RBI-scoring two-baggers. Seniors Colin Morris (SR/Bridgeport, CT) and Frank Fiumara* (SR/Port Chester, NY) also collected two hits, wrapping up strong tournament runs for the Panthers, who have enjoyed their best season in program history to date.

Although eliminated from the conference tournament, Purchase, winners of 21 games this season, may receive an ECAC postseason bid this coming week. That tourney will be announced soon.